Teen admits he held up magician and aides

November 10, 2006|By Missy Diaz Staff Writer

Illusionist David Copperfield used his magic skills to outsmart teenage robbers last spring, one of whom pleaded guilty Thursday to his crimes.

Terrance Riley participated in the stickup outside the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach just before midnight on April 23. The heist occurred as Copperfield, 50, and his two female assistants returned to the center after a performance and dinner at CityPlace. Riley pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery with a weapon and a count of attempted robbery with a weapon.

Copperfield, whose real name is David Seth Kotkin, said he used his magic skills to make it appear his pockets were empty when they were not.

"He said in depositions that he had things on him, but it wasn't difficult to make it seem like there was nothing there," prosecutor Sherri Collins said.

Circuit Judge Edward Garrison sentenced the 17-year-old Riley to two years in prison and is requiring the teen to testify against his two co-defendants, 17-year-old Markeith Jones and Dwayne Riley, 18, Terrance's half-brother. Garrison agreed to sentence Terrance Riley as a youthful offender, which means he will be housed in a facility with other inmates younger than 21.

The Riley brothers moved to West Palm Beach from Kentucky about a month before the robbery, according to defense attorney Franklin Prince. They came to live with their grandmother.

The gun-toting teens pulled up to Copperfield and the women in a Chevy Malibu, driven by Dwayne Riley, authorities said. Terrance Riley and Jones got out of the car and demanded money. They netted $400 from one of the magician's assistants and the purse, cell phone and passport of the other.

Terrance Riley hopes to complete his high school education behind bars, his attorney said, and then work a little magic of his own.

"Terrance was remorseful for what occurred, has told the truth about his involvement and would like everything to disappear," Prince said.

Jones and Dwayne Riley have similar plea offers on the table, according to Collins, though Jones would be required to serve more time because he has another robbery charge pending from a second alleged incident at CityPlace.